Photos of My Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Guadalupe!

I am back from Mexico and I feel like a new man. Just ask Joy, my wife. I feel like Our Blessed Mother prayed to Jesus for me in such a way that a gigantic “negativity” boulder just rolled off my back.

I’m even more excited about life, our marriage, and our children. I see things in a new light. I literally spent hours sitting in front of the miraculous image of Our Lady of Guadalupe and I think the Holy Spirit did a lot of work on me. I also made two new promises to God through her and if these favors are granted, I plan to return to Mexico City again.

Also, I prayed for you! Repeatedly, I looked into our Blessed Mother’s eyes and prayed, “Please pray for all the good people who read the blog and listen to the podcast and are part of NSTI. Lift their intention to Jesus.” I carried you all with me in your heart. Your intentions, are now her intentions” “Am I not here, I, who am your Mother?”

Scott Hahn and Taylor Marshall in front of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City

Here is the itinerary of the pilgrimage and then I will post some photos below. If you are receiving this post via email, sometimes your email provider (eg, gmail) will block the images. You want to click “Always display images from this email address” and that should do the trick. Here is where we went!

Infant of Prague Parish in Mexico City

Pyramids of Mexico (including the 3rd largest pyramid in the world where they once performed human sacrifice – prior to Our Lady of Guadalupe!)

Amazing view? Check. Dorky straw hat? Check. Cheesy tourist badge? Check.The only negative to this photo is that they used to sacrifice human beings at the site!

Saint James Church – Where Saint Juan Diego was baptized and attended Holy Mass.

This is THE baptismal font where Saint Juan Diego was baptized!

The Virgin of Ocotlán in Tlaxcala, Mexico. The Virgin of Ocotlán appeared in 1541 (10 years after Guadalupe) to another native also named Juan Diego (different from Saint Juan Diego). She blessed the water there and a miraculous statue of her was found inside a hollow oak tree. This region was also an early outpost for Franciscan missionaries.

The Virgin of Ocotlán in Tlaxcala, Mexico.

San Miguel del Milagro – the site where Saint Michael appeared to a native named Diego Lazaro in 1631 (exactly 100 years after Our Lady of Guadalupe in 1531). I brought back some holy water from this well for my family and a couple of friends at my parish who asked for it.

The Cathedral of Mexico City

The amazing organ inside the Cathedral of Mexico City. Wow!

Saint Dominic’s Parish in Mexico City

The Guadalupe Museum (this is a must – a major highlight of the pilgrimage)

These are “exvotos” – little paintings on metal given by those who received healing or miracles through Our Lady of Guadalupe. There are hundreds of them going back centuries!

The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe:

The Old Basilica (where the tilma was before 1976 – it now has perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament)

The New Basilica (where the miraculous tilma is now – holds 50,000 people inside)

This crucifix was bent when a bomb exploded in front of the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. It’s called “Christ the Protector of His Mother” since the crucifix was damaged, but it protected the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe from the blast of the explosion. Viva Cristo Rey!

The Church on the top of Tepeyac hill

Praying the Rosary on the steps at the top of Tepeyac hill.

The Tiemplo Pocito (a round church built over a sulphur spring at the foot of Tepeyac hill)

And here’s a photo with three of our New Saint Thomas Institute Members who were on the pilgrimage. Shelly, Jeanne, (Our Lady of Guadalupe in the distance), Taylor and Brandon:

I learned a ton about Our Lady of Guadalupe while I was there. I thought I already knew a good bit, but I literally knew nothing. I am definitely going back again and I want to take my wife Joy with me next time. It would be great if you could join us! Maybe we can organize an New Saint Thomas Institute pilgrimage to Guadalupe! We will do everything with an eye to the supernatural and spiritual, plus a good measure of “POD”.*

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Luke Arredondo

Glad you visited the old church! My family is from Mexico but I’ve only been to Guadalupe once. Mexico has a great heritage of beautiful churches, and there are many in my family’s town that are older than anything I’ve seen in the U.S. Isn’t it mind-blowing to think of the pentecost unleashed at Guadalupe? 3,000 baptisms a day for 3 years!

What a trip! That is such a powerful image and intercession of Our Lady. It was great to see you with Scott Hahn.

Patti Day

Absolutely amazing. I look forward to information about your next pilgrimage!

Victor

When pictures such as “The Virgin of Ocotlán in Tlaxcala, Mexico” are seen, it is not hard to believe and/or accept why Mexican people are so proud of their country and now want to share with the world.

Welcome back Doctor Marshall and thanks again for the prayers.

God Bless Peace

Rosemary

I was born on December 12, but it wasn’t until I went down to visit Our Lady of Guadalupe that I realized she had been mothering me all along. My pilgrimage to Mexico this past summer really did change everything for me. So glad to see the pictures and to hear another story of God’s mercy at Tepeyac.

About Taylor

I am the author of the Amazon bestselling novel Sword and Serpent: A Retelling of Saint George and the Dragon, and 7 other published books on topic ranging from Judaism, Catholicism, Thomas, Aquinas, and Roman history.

I’m also the President of the New Saint Thomas Institute where we offer online theology classes to over 2,500 students in over 50 nations.

My wife Joy and I have eight children and we live near Colleyville, Texas.